Blessings I have received

I am continuing the message from my last post. I am truly blessed in my life with a great family and good friends. I have been given the opportunity to accept a new position with an accounting firm here where I live. This is after 24 and 1/2 years with the government, which has been very good to me. It is great money, great benefits and I can still retire in 6 years. Mike has commented that he will not mind being a kept man, I am thinking of buying him a new apron.

I think that this opportunity is my blessing for the years of sacrifice I have made for my family. Sacrifices made without begrudgement because I know what is important in my life. Whether it was downgrading so I could help my kids succeed in school, the time I lost from life and work helping my family deal with my father's illness and death, the time missed from work and life as we dealt with my father-in-laws illness and death and the time I spent taking care of my beloved mother-in-law as she battled cancer.

I am excited about my new experiences that I will enjoy. I admit, it's terrifying to make a change at my age, and I am not the bravest person in the world. I have spent the whole day having a panic attack just wondering if the rug would be pulled out from under my feet and the opportunity would just be a joke. I have made a habit in life of not expecting too much because the less you expect the easier it is when you don't get anything. Less disappointment that way.

The best thing about the whole experience is they came looking for me. All along I would say if your looking for ........., I am not your girl, whether it was lots of hours, the education I am lacking and not interested in seeking. I also was not to interested because originally the offer would have required me to give up about 1/2 of the vacation days I now accrue in a year. And I wasn't willing to do that. I wasn't trying to be difficult, or hold out for more money. I already make more money that I ever thought I would in my life, I have a great job with a great company working for a great boss. Good hours (pretty flexible) and the ability to work from home. How great could it get??????

Well along came the offer that includes the same vacation days practically, flexibility of work hours, the ability to work from home if I need to and a great office to work in. I know quite a few of the employees there so it won't be like going to a strange office. How good can it get. Well I will have to keep you posted because the sky's the limit.

Happy Days.

Sisters

I have to say, I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have two awesome sisters. They are my friends and it's funny but even though we have the same parents, we are soooooooo different.

Katie for example, the oldest, is very introverted and keeps to herself. But if you need anything, she is the "go to" girl. She also happens to be married to my husbands best college buddy. I think this year is probably their 25th wedding anniversary.

Georgina (George to those of us who know her and love her) is the baby of the family but what a little mother she turned out to be. She and her family, Bruce and Cody, care for our mother who had a stroke 5 years ago. And you couldn't find better care givers. She has been married to Bruce for 21 years.

Mike and I have been married 30 years and I am the steam roller of the family. I am a take charge kind of person which I am sure drives them both nuts because I see a problem and I feel the need to stick my nose in and fix it. But they haven't kicked me out of the family yet so I am keeping on keeping on.

This picture was taken at my son's wedding in February. And the guest of honor is the woman who started it all, our Mom. She has aged a little lately in the last few years, she will be 78 this fall in August and is kind of like the energizer bunny, she just keeps on keeping on. She had a stroke in 2005, then a quadruple (or something like that) bypass and last September she fell and broke her leg. She is a strong woman and has been an example to us girls of how to be and how to raise a strong family. Between the 3 of us, we have given her 5 grandsons who she loves very much. She always loves to see them come visit and always has a big grin for them. They run in age from 28 to 18. And she loves her new grand-daughter in-law very much. I think mostly for how happy her grandson is.

Lifes funny twists and turns

I can't believe it's been so long since I have had anything important to write about. Sometimes, I wonder what I have done to deserve the blessings I have received in my life. When I was young and knew it all, my Dad and I were constantly at loggerheads (does anyone besides me know what that means, if so you are probably old like me). Anyway, because I knew it all, I totally blew off high school but I graduated. Then I figured I knew it all and college wasn't going to teach me anything. Then when I was 25, with two kids and bills we couldn't pay, I went to job service for help finding a job that paid more than JCPenney. But the kind lady at Job Service informed me that they couldn't help me, I had no marketable skills. Looks like I had been hoisted on my on pertard (another one of those old words). Anyway, I made the decision then and there that I had screwed myself, it was up to me to make something of myself. Going to college, now that I realized how important it was, was not an option because I had two kids to raise and a husband who was gone all the time.

In my job at JCPenney, I had done a little bit of filing, nothing noteworthy, but it counted. So I got a job at IRS and that little bit of filing got me in the door as a GS3 rather than a GS2. In the last 24 years at IRS, I have hopscotched my way around the service, working in just about anything, but picking up those little skills along the way. My guardian angel has been watching over me all these years, putting me in the right place to learn skills that I had no idea what I would do with them down the road. I guess being willing to do any job put in front of you pays off in the end.

Now I am not the most intelligent person on earth, and the theory of accounting and algebra is just beyond me. I have taken just enough accounting classes to know that I hate working with numbers, and I can work an algabraic formula, as long as there isn't an X or a Y in there. But go figure, I work for the IRS. Anyway, I have no idea why things seem to work out for me but I am doing things I never thought I would be able to, and making more money than I ever thought I would.

It frustrates me that my kids don't understand how important college is. I don't want them to have to make the same stupid choices I did and learn their lessons from the school of hard knocks. But considering who they have for a mother, I can see that they will do things the hard way the same way I did. All I can do is pray for them and hope that they have the same blessings in their life that I have.

Welcome Spring

We finally made it. I think spring has sprung. I got the yard cleaned up from winter, pulled the planters out from under the deck and got the new mulch spread in the planter out front. Trimmed the roses (man do I miss Virginia, she used to do that loathsome chore), sprayed the weeds in the garden, mowed up three months of dog #@!%$# (trying to remember why I like them so much--oh yeah they're cute) and got rid of the tiller. All that's left is to dispose of a few old yard machines that no longer work.

Then I need to decide what flowers I want to go into my planters. By the way, they multiplied under the deck this winter (has to be it because it seems like more came out than I put under there).

Also, got the trailer home and the basement storage put back together, fixed the light switch, put all the stuff back in the basement storage and now all that's left to do is wash the bird !@#$#@! off.

I am so glad that I get to work tomorrow, I really need the rest. What a weekend.

Good Times, Good Friends and RAIN

So once again, for about the 20th year, Mike and I spent Easter vacation with our best friends Jeff and Jolene. Now Jeff is about a close as Mikes "brotha from anotha motha" as you can get. It's weird how they think the same thoughts and can finish each other's sentences. But I digress.

The title of this little ditty should actually be Good Friends, Long Drives, Rigorous Hikes (that I survived by the way) and Road Side Surgery.

We spent the weekend in Windsor California, a nice little slice of heaven north of San Fransciso. Left the snow for rain and came back home to snow. While we were there, we saw tons of "happy cows" from California, the ocean and some beautiful redwoods. Then off to San Franscisco for the day to ride the cable cars and eat seafood.

While in the Armstrong State Park, we decided to hike. Unfortunately, I let everyone else pick the hike. We went straight up for about 10 miles, then straight down the same amount. But they saw some wonderful scenery. Me, I was too busy trying to catch my breath and make sure I didn't trip over something to see anything. It had rained the day before so everything was fresh. The problem I have is I spend too much time jockeying a chair and not enough time outside hiking. But unfortunately Mike likes the $$ I make too much to let me trade in my pencil for hiking boots. Top it off with 70 year old knees in a 50 year old body and it's lucky I didn't have a heart attack and have to be life flighted off the hill. But I made it, whining all the way.

Then it was off to some of the most beautiful ocean scenery you have ever imagined. What an inspiration to see all that God has put here for us to enjoy. After we drove the coast we were driving back to the condo on this little two lane road, in the middle of no where, when Jeff notices he has a tick buried about halfway into his arm. Even after he made such fun of me on the hike, I still took pity on him and provided the instruments for a little road side tick extraction. And doctors think they need sterile operating rooms and razor sharp instruments. Funny what you can do with matches from Joe and Angie's wedding (10 years ago almost), the file from a pair of fingernail clippers (luckily TSA didn't confiscate the dangerous instrument) and a little bit of hand sanitizer. But we burned his little butt (the ticks, not Jeff's) pulled him out, cleaned it off and went on our way.

I have to say that I am grateful to have very special people in my life. I have never had a brother but Jeff is as close at it could come the way he gives me a hard time. They are a wonderful couple and are very easy to travel with. No drama, enjoys quiet time and a lot of humor. Jolene is very gullible and keeps falling for Mike's pranks. I keep telling her that if his lips are moving, he lying. But she keeps getting sucked in. Oh well, if Mike's giving her a hard time, I'm safe.

The Wedding

Well, it's been a month since Brandon and Becca were married. I have been looking at the wedding pictures (all 1014 of them) and they are wonderful. Brandon looked so relaxed and Becca, when that girl laughs, she laughs with her whole body. I think the thing that struck me the most, looking back, is how relaxed everyone was, no stress, no drama, just good friends and good fun. The smile on Brandon's face reminded me of when he was little and I haven't seen that look in about 20 years. Thank you Becca for putting that look back on his face, I could never repay you for that.

My Mom was the Matriarch of the affair. She was so proud to see him married. It was good to have my whole family together, I just with Katie's kids had been there. They were the only ones missing. It was a small intimate affair with good food, good friends and great memories.

Life goes on.

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated my blog. Since my last post, Mike and I (with some help from our sons and some friends) have completely gutted and remodeled the bathroom in our house. Includes a new jacuzzi tub, new tile on the walls and floor, new cabinet over the toilet and a new sink and counter top. I am so excited it has turned out wonderful. But I have to say, it was a lot easier 26years ago when we were doing the tile in there for the first time. It sucks to get old and worn out. One thing I do have to say is I have a lot of respect for my mother and father in law. When we built this house, they spent a lot of time here during the summer helping us do the lawn etc. They were out there sweating in the sun all day while Mike and I worked and then still helped in the evening when we got home. I don't know how they did it without whining all the time like I have been doing.

I will try to have Dave help me put some pictures here so you can enjoy it also (the bathroom). Have a great day. And Happy Spring.

Sunday's Update

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated my blog. It has been a very busy 2 1/2 weeks. Thanks to a wonderful family friend or two, I no longer have a bathtub in my frontroom or on my deck. The jacuzzi is in the bathroom, sheet rock is up, paint is on the ceiling and walls. Tomorrow is tile. I can begin to see the end maybe. It has been a difficult week, alot to do at home, alot on my desk at work and THE BATHROOM. To top if off, Mike is on call again. And I feel so sorry for the guy, he has worked 41 hours of overtime (on top of 40 hours of straight time) in 6 days. And still 1 1/2 days to go. That is pretty tough on an old dude. One day ended up being 20 hours long.

Today is Valentines Day and a Happy Valentines day to everyone. My sweetheart had big plans for Friday night, dinner out and flowers. Well, he dropped the flowers off at 2am on his way from one call to another and I had cheese and crackers for dinner. Am I disappointed, not really because I know the place I hold in his heart. And he works so hard for our family. Plusssssss, this week just paid for our vacation in two weeks. Yippppeee can you say Vegas Baby. Not that I love Vegas that much, but it's warm there (usually). And work isn't there, we can sleep in if we want to and do nothing but rest.

Brandon is getting married in 6 days. This has been a very bitter sweet time. I have tried to keep a low profile and mend my steam roller mentality and ways. I am trying to be a better mother-in-law this time around. I am going to try to live up to the example of the best one in the world. My mother-in-law Virginia was a stellar example of how to be. For the first few years of our marriage, she was very intimidating to me. Not afraid to attempt anything and accomplished at just about everything she tried. She worked full time and managed a house and a family in a way that I could only dream about. But as I grew to know her and love her, it became apparent that she had her own worries about being the best at everything and being afraid of failure. She taught me so much about patience and perseverance. And a lot about home arts and how to fake it when you are doing homemade stuff like pie crusts etc.

I was so blessed to be able to care for her in the last years of her life and to be able to give back to her a little of the love and caring she gave to me. If I can only live up to her example as a mother-in-law, I will be blessed yet again. She has been gone for 2 years now and I still do things and find myself reaching for the phone to call her and tell her about it. I know she is watching over me and I can't wait until my test is done and I can be with her and my Dad again.

Remodeling

Mike and I have lived in our home almost 25 years. We started building it in November 1984. Mike drew the plans and built it and then we have spent the last 26 years changing it. First taking out the kitchen window and putting in a deck. Then adding a bedroom and bathroom in the basement. Then taking out the bedroom in the basement and adding a master bedroom in the basement. Then adding a garage and familyroom and a second deck. And landscaping and changing landscaping. Then a new kitchen floor. And new carpet. And a new driveway and front porch. And a waterfall (when all I really wanted was the weeds pulled from the flowerbed). But it's beautiful and I am lucky to have such a talented husband. Now we are remodeling the bathroom. So out goes the tile and the sheetrock. And now I have a tub on my deck (the old one) and a tub in my frontroom (the new jacuzzi one) and nothing in the bathroom but a toilet that isn't connected to anything.

Tonight my wonderful hubby was sitting at the kitchen table figuring out the plumbing for the new taps and showerhead in the bathtub. I love how he just sits there with this far off look on his face because I know he is drawing a picture in his mind and that is one thing I can't do.

We thought we had the tile all picked out and the colors and everything but then there is a picture on the box the shower head came in and it is really awesome. I like that tile better and hope he does too. And the jacuzzi tub, man I can hardly wait. I never figured he would go for it because it is so much more work than we had planned on.

And the down side to the remodel? The timing. Our son is getting married on the 20th of February and we are having some family for breakfast the day after. And it looks like we will be a one bathroom family still. I PRAY THAT I WON'T STILL HAVE A BATHTUB IN MY FRONTROOM!!!!!!!!!

My Two Favorite Puppies

Today Mike and I took our favorite puppies (but don't let them know they are dogs) to the vet. It is time for licenses again and they needed a few booster shots. To those who don't know the history of our dogs, I will share. Their pictures are at the bottom of my blog.

Sammie is Miniature Schnauzer. She was born in July of 2000. We adopted her from the animal shelter in the fall of 2003 when she was 3 years old. The Weber County Animal control took her away from a lady that was running a puppy mill. Poor Sammie lived in a crate and had babies. When she came to us, she weighed 10lbs and had been shaved almost bald because no one ever groomed or cared for her. She is the light of our life and the biggest couch potato, TV watching dog I have ever seen. She loves anything with puppies in it.

Penny is a West Highland White Terrier. She was 5 years old when we adopted her in 2004. She belonged to a lady who had Parkinson's disease and could no long care for her. Previous to this owner, someone had abused this sweet little dog. She is so timid and is always looking for a corner to hide in. She hates loud noises and hides if anyone raises their voice. I worry about her ever getting out of the yard because if you holler for her, she is sure she is going to get into trouble. Her favorite activities are carrying a stuffed animal around in her mouth like her "baby", chasing birds in the back yard and chasing her tail. Oh and she likes to lick Sammie like she was cleaning a puppy. She will do this for an extended period of time until finally Sammie gets up and walks off.

Anyway, back to the Vet visit today. It was very discouraging because although they are in good health, they are starting to show their ages. Both dogs are getting a cloud over their eyes. The Vet says it isn't cataracts but can blur the vision the same as a cataract can. Their teeth are starting to show their age. And Penny has developed a cough that sounds like her wind pipe is starting to collapse. Luckily this is a slow moving problem and will not affect her quality of life for a while.

As I was sitting in the front room tonight, watching Penny walk on the back of the couch and licking Mike's ears, I thought "What are we going to do without these babies". Hopefully, that won't be an issue for 4 or 5 more years but the Vet said he thinks that their early years had a part in advancing their age related issues.

So I would like to say that anyone who mistreats a helpless, loving animal like my dogs ought to be hung from their toenails. These dogs are the most loving things I have ever encountered. They give unconditional love and are always ready for a pat and a kiss. Give them a carrot or a dog biscuit and they think that life is great. I hope that the life they have experienced since they came into our family helps to make up for the first years of their lives when things weren't so great.

Sunday Random Thought Again

It is Sunday once again and today the whole fam is sluffing church. Mike is sick. He has been for a week but finally he is sick enough that he let me take him to the doctor. I wish that he would listen a little sooner. If he had gone to the doctor yesterday like I wanted him to, he would be on the road to recovery today. Instead, today (on Sunday), we were off to the InstaCare (Bless them). Nothing major, just a sinus/respiratory infections with a side dose of ear infection. So off to the pharmacy for some antibiotics, decongestant and then back home in the chair with the Snugglie. He laid around all day yesterday which lets me know that he really is sick, not just whining, because he is the busiest person I know. He doesn't do down time well. Dave is running a close second with the runny nose etc and now my throat is tickling. Can I tell you how tired I am of winter..........

I have been cleaning house preparatory to starting to demolish our upstairs bathroom. We are looking at 26 years with the same plumbing and things have been leaking a little bit in the past. So it's out with the old and in with some new. We were able to match the cupboard doors that are in the bathroom now so we won't have to replace the vanity, just the sink and top. Then we are going with a wooden "john" cabinent over the toilet for storage. We are taking out all the old tile (which includes the walls) installing new tile on the walls and in the tub and then going with a tile floor. New tub bars (for old people) and towel racks and hopefully in a few weeks, we are good as new. Then it's on to the down stairs bathroom. Because of the upstairs leaks, we have some damage in the downstairs bathroom to fix. Not quite as major as the upstairs but we are moving the doorway from the hall to inside our bedroom so it will now be an ensuite bathroom. How nice that will be. I will be keeping a journal on my blog of our success.

Last big remodel project will be taking the siding off from over the garage and installing new windows and rock on the front. Then the house will be all in this century and in good shape to sell. All we need to do is finish putting in our time and retire. Over the last 26 years, I have enjoyed being a home owner and still get great satisfaction from maintaining a nice home. But more and more I am ready to say "Home Owners Association Baby". Stand by for updates.

Random Thoughts

Today is a work holiday and it's my favorite kind. Mike and Dave are both working and I am not. Bless those kind of days. I have accomplished so much even though it's the kind of stuff no one will be able to see but me. I spent the morning shredding. That's just about my favorite activity, besides playing Bejeweled. Which by the way I haven't. I have been getting ready for tax time. This is what's involved.
1)Balance the checkbook (and if I'm lucky, it's not for months and months). This time, only one month. And that's just because I caught it up over the holidays (5 months) because I knew what was coming.
2)Try to remember how to run my reports for the tax stuff on Quicken. Quicken is a really wonderful invention and really is a time saver, if you know how to or can remember how to work it. But I found them (the reports) and they are printed.
3)Try to remember what all went to Deseret Industries etc, because that darned IRS requires an itemized list.
4)Find all the other stuff that goes in the folder for the accountant. Luckily, I have been doing this long enough that I have gotten smart and put all the receipts etc in a folder through out the year. 2010's folder is already going.
5)Empty out the files from years back and shred shred shred. I took out 6 bags of garbage, papers, envelopes etc that I have been cleaning out. I have to bag it up and stick it in the can before Mike gets home because the questions will start "Why are you getting rid of that". And if I don't bag it up good enough, and he sees it in the can, he will look through it. Don't think I'm lying , the neighbor has the pictures to prove it. Will we all develop those weird habits when we hit 50?

The only thing I have to figure out now is how does paper get so dirty? I am filthy, my hands are filthy and the floor really needs to be vacuumed. But I have accomplished the task, all I have to do is wait for the 1099's and W2's and I am there. What a relief.

Just a word about this holiday that I am enjoying so much. I really respect Dr. King and what he was trying to accomplish. I am especially grateful for the way he tried to accomplish it. It is so sad that a man who was against violence had to die by violence. I am very grateful for the message's I hear coming from our president when he talks about being a parent and trying to raise our families right. I don't agree with all of his politics and he hasn't been proven yet, but he puts the right message across concerning responsibility. Now if people would just listen to him. I am especially grateful that I have never had to feel the sting of racial bias or discrimination. I have dealt with disrespect but I can't complain because I am pretty sure in the last 49 year's I have dealt some out. I am just grateful that I learned respect and as parents we have tried to teach it to our family. It is still a lesson in progress but on the whole, they are getting it.

Thank you Dr. King, and "I have a dream" also.

Daddy's Little Girl

My Dad has been on my mind today. On February 22, it will be 15 years since he passed away from complications due to ALS. Frankly, the disease sucks and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But compared to the Big "C", it's a fairly pain free disease until the end.

My Dad was born on May 8th, 1929 (I think) in a coal camp in Carbon County. He was the oldest son of Gerald and Katie Banasky. He had one living brother, Jimmy, and one sibling who died at birth (I think). He met my mother on a blind date and married her on December 15, 1956. They saw each other about 4 times before they got married. She lived in Vancouver BC Canada and he lived in Salt Lake City while he was going to the University of Utah. In September 1958, they had my sister Katie. Two years later, the same month and the same day as Katie, I was born. Five years later, there was a little tag-a-long named Georgina, George to those who know and love her.

We lived in a house on Main Street in Helper Utah for most of my childhood, moving to Salt Lake City when I started high school. From there, they moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, back to Carbon County, then to Coalville Utah. They lived in Coalville until my father passed away.

My dad and I had a strange love hate relationship for most of my teenage years, love on his side, hate on mine. Mostly I think I hated myself because I didn't know where I was going or what I was doing. I asked my father once, after I had been married for a few years and had children of my own, why he didn't just shoot me when I was 17 and put him out of his misery. His answer? "Where would the fun be in that?". I have affectionately referred to myself as my "father's daughter" for a long time. We both had the same hard headed personality. He told me once that I would spend half my life pissing people off and the other half apologizing for it. I hate it when he's right.

During my dad's last year of life, I was fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time talking to him. I was raising two small children, working full time and managing a house mostly by myself because Mike was always gone. My dad told me one day that "he was going to be my guardian angel. I needed someone to watch out for, and take care of me because I didn't do it myself". Sometimes, during really rough times in my life, he still comes to me. I can hear his voice, just like if he was standing beside me. He will say "Edythe, you need to slow down before you are no good to anyone." I love it that sometimes the veil is so thin that he is still with me.

I found that I had loaded a song onto my MP3 player that I use at work that really brought him back. It was a song by Faith Hill called Daddy's Girl. I had never heard it before, but it really said it all. Sometimes when I really have a bad day, I still wish I was just "Daddy's Girl". I love you Dad.

Family History

I spent the evening at the Family History library. The LDS church has a new program for genealogy called Family Search. It is so neat and makes it easy to do genealogy. The older I get, and the more family members that pass away, the more important this information seems to be. Mike and I have been working on his family line. We were working on his mother and father's information, and his sister Mary that passed away in 2007. When we put the information in about his grandparents, it found their information and the town they were born in. We were able to add the information we had about their marriage, when they died and where they were buried.

I am trying to work on my family information. My grandparents lived in Canada and are buried somewhere in Vancouver. It dawned on me that I don't even know where they are buried or even if they are buried vs being in a vault somewhere. Lots of detective work and the biggest problem is my mother has had a stroke and some of her memory is diminished. I will be contacting my Uncle to see what information he has available.

The interesting part about doing genealogy is you find all kind of neat skeletons. For instance Mike's grandfather was born with the surname of Nash. Now his father (Nash)seems to have not been a nice person so his mother ended up marrying a man with the surname of Kuhn. But no information has been found the says that Jesse (Mike's grandfather) was ever adopted by Mr. Kuhn, or if he just took his last name. I don't know what the Social Security Records show or anything. What a quandary.

And at my great grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, it was discovered that even though Morley and Margaret, my great grandparents had been married 60 years, their daughter (my Grandmother) was 65. What a scandal. Seems Margaret had been married to a man who was killed when my grandmother was a small child and Morley was her second husband. I am not sure what the scandal was all about considering some of the family relations of today. Some individuals family trees have no forks in them and you can really tell.

So, the detective work goes on, stay tuned for more.

It's a great day

Well finally, after getting off to a bad start, the week has started going good. I was at work today, finally accomplishing something, jamming to some good redneck tunes on my MP3 player. I had the tunes cranked so I couldn't hear the lady sitting next to me complain about her soon to be ex any more. So I am sitting there rocking to a little redneck music by Keith Anderson "Pickin' Wild Flowers" which is best listened to really loud. Like I said I am jammin, and typing away and my good buddy Nick, who I work with, taps me on the shoulder and says "We are having a disaster drill, are you coming????". So off goes the music, grab my sweater and my purse and out the door I go. Then I don't know why I thought I was signed up to be the bathroom monitor (to save all the ladies lives that are hanging out in there) but I did. Needless to say, that's not the job assigned to me, I found out what my job really should be, then we headed outside into the sub-freezing weather to the meeting point. And waited and waited and discussed what we had done and the fact that in a disaster situation, we will probably all die. So I'm wondering, as the trucks and cars are whizzing by us and I can't here what my boss is saying, why can't we take this inside and discuss it in the relative peace and warmth of our building????

Anyway, good thing it was only just a drill, I now know what my job is and the lady that sits next to me has promised to make sure she won't leave me again. Maybe I will make it out of the dungeon I work in alive if we do really have a disaster.

On a more somber note, I have been reading and listening to reports about the damage that occurred earlier this week in Haiti. They were hit with an earthquake that hit 7.0 on the Richter scale. Due to the poorness of the country and the substandard building practices, thousands of people are out of their homes, with no shelter and no support. Once again I am grateful for the country I live in and the laws that sometimes frustrate me but are mostly for my own protection. I am so glad to live in a house that is securely built, with food storage provisions that would allow us to survive in relative comfort should an emergency happen here.

I was talking to my oldest son today who had to make a very important presentation for his business. This was the first time he had to do this and he has been worrying and fretting about it for a week now. He did ok, said it was constructive and he has guidelines that he needs to follow to correct his business plan. So his brother and I decided we would help him and rewrite his business plan. We texted him a picture of his new business plan that we had created, on a very stunning red piece of construction paper with our best black sharpie marker. Of course we got a few words wrong, but a few strikeouts wouldn't hurt anything, at least he would know we proof read it. We haven't heard back from him, as to when he wants us to come up and present it to his company vice president for him, but we do want him to know that we are ready anytime he makes the call. The thing I love best about both of my kids, is they have a sense of humor, though sometimes it gets a little lost.



As I am sitting here listening to Dave sing "Ala-freakin-bama" over and over along with the song he is listening too, I am so sorry that musical/vocal talent isn't one of the talent's that he was given in the pre-existence. He will just have to work on enlarging his other talents (when he finds them).

Can I tell you how much I love being a MOM?????? It's great some days and this is one of them. Thank you God for my blessings.

Sunday night rambles

It is Sunday night at 9:30 and work comes too early tomorrow. I spent the day with my son yesterday at Cabelas. What a treat. I also caused a major faux paux. I don't know how I am going to live with the guilt. I guess it's a bad bad bad thing to mention the fact that someone is carrying a weapon. Not like I announced it on the loud speaker or yelled it across the room, I just read the sign and said do you need to check in???? So anyway, once again, I APOLOGIZE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR MY SINS.

Ok on to other things. I made bread yesterday, and it's a miracle, it turned out pretty good. I like making my own bread because it's a challenge and I have struggled to be able to do it well. There are so many things I can't do that most times I feel like a big looser. I can't add in my head, heck I can barely work an adding machine (showing my age because most people born in the last 30 years don't even know what that is, now a days they are called "graphing calculators" and I can't hardly run one of those either). I can't do jigsaw puzzles, I have a hard time making small talk because I always end up sounding like an idiot, I am not a very good wife because I won't make phone calls, and on and on and on, so anyway, I make bread.

This has been a pity party kind of day and I don't even know why. Started out pretty good, then I got out of bed and it went pretty much down hill from there. On well, I have learned on days like that, it's pretty much over in about 24 hours if you can just breathe through it and tomorrow is another day.

I think it kind of started yesterday when I went to visit my mother. She is 77 years old and has struggle for the last 5 years. She suffered pretty severe depression when my father died, then she moved in with my sister and helped them for quite a few years taking care of their son while they worked. Then in July of 2005 she had a stroke. My sister's life changed drastically because she stays home and cares for my Mom. I live with a lot of guilt because I could do it but am glad that I don't have to. I don't have the kind of home that Mom could live in, too many stairs, and my bedroom is down stairs. But I feel bad because I think about all that my sister and brother have sacrificed. I am never going to be able to repay my brother-in-law. Their life pretty much runs around my mother (who is not always the most grateful person in the world).

Anyway, I went to see my Mom and she wasn't feeling well so she was being the queen of the day lounging in her jamas watching TV in her room. She looks so small sometimes and I wonder how much more she can take. She had the stroke, then she ended up having heart surgery and really struggled with both. Then in September of this year, she fell and broke her leg. Back to the nursing home for 2 and a half months. While at the nursing home, she quit eating. I really wondered if she was giving up. But she is home again and looks like she is doing better. Except somedays she really seems to not be as alert as others. And I worry about what is going to happen to my sister when she passes away. It will be so hard for her.

So I just pray a little harder and try to love her a little more. Oh well, that 24 hours, they are almost up, and if I sleep them away, tomorrow is another day.

Kids say and do the darndest things, and so do parents

A story in the news this week talks about a couple down in Georgia who are in trouble with the law for tattooing their six children with a homemade tattoo machine. It used an electric motor and a sharpened guitar string. They cannot understand why this would be considered "child endangerment". The kids didn't mind said the mother. The youngest child was six. Helloooooo, what six year old is going to say, Noooo Mommmmy don't do that when Mommy makes it seem so cool. Now these children are marked for life without consciously making the choice to be so. I don't have anything against tattoos, just wouldn't choose to do so to myself (except for my eyeliner Brandon) and think it isn't fair that a parent make that choice for a minor child.

But I digress. What started the thought for this blog was hanging some pictures in my office.cum.sewing room. I received a picture from my son for Christmas that says "I love you to the moon and back...infinity...and beyond..forever and ever." What makes this wall hanging so precious to me is the fact that with my children when they were young, we would play this game. I would say "I love you". They would say "I love you too". I would then say "I love you the most". The response to that was "I love you to infinity and beyond, I win". Finally as adults, it got shortened to ILU2IAB, I win. I have threatened for years to have that made into a vanity plate for my car, but being the cheapskate (frugal person) that I am, I haven't wanted to part with the cash. Still, it's fun that at their advanced ages, my boys are not too grown up to say it.

I was looking at some pictures of the kids when I was creating a DVD for my husband's 50th birthday. I found one of my youngest son, making this goofy face. When he was crying or fussing, which seemed like all the time, I would say "Show me your big eyes" and it was a miracle, no screaming for a few minutes and this doofy face that made me remember why as a Mom, you try to love your kids no matter what. I have a picture of him(as a baby) sitting right next to his graduation picture so I can remember him when he was cute. Not that he's not cute now, he does clean up well.

The funny thing about my youngest son Dave, all he ever wanted when he was little was to do what his big brother was doing. The funny thing now, even though he towers over his big brother by about 7 inches or so, all he wants to do is what his big brother is doing. And they still manage to fight like 2 year olds sometimes. The thing about siblings is no one seems to know how to cut as deep (in an argument), or protect as much about 2 seconds later. Dave was always the one to cut it, break it, or take most of the skin off of his body parts. And his big brother was always the one who would doctor him up. I came home from work one day and with the amount of gauze that was wrapped around Dave's appendage, you would think he had amputated something. I asked him about it and he said, it's okay, Brandon fixed it for me.

So anyway, ILU2IAB, I WIN and I will always love you guys.

A few interesting articles I have read

I read a few articles in the last few weeks that I found rather ironic.

The first article talked about the number of people that are hiring "life coaches". In case you don't know what a life coach is, it is a person that teaches you the life skills to get ahead in today's society. Whether it is learning "how to dress for success" (do not, I repeat do not wear that cute little black bra under your white tank top, it just isn't appropriate office wear), "how to win friends and influence people" or "nutrition and balanced dieting", there is a person out there just waiting to teach you all these things, for a nominal fee of course.

The next article I read was about so called "helicopter parents" that "hover" and prevent their children from growing up and becoming responsible adults. The thing I find ironic about both articles is the fact that when I was growing up (and I know it was last century) I had a life coach that taught me all the things I needed to learn to "dress for success" and "how to win friends and influence people". Granted the last skill still could use some fine tuning on my part. Anyway, I digress, the life coach who taught me these skills were........are you ready, my parents.

I guess now a days, I could blame every little set back in my life (and their have been a few) on the fact that I had helicopter parents who hovered and kicked my butt when it needed it most. I come from very sturdy, hard headed country stock, and my Dad explained more than once in a dinner time lecture, what skills were needed for life. My Mom taught me how to dress properly by refusing to let me leave the house with that little black bra showing under my shirt. Skirts were to be worn the proper length and make up shouldn't look like I was auditioning for a clown contest.

I am sad to say that I learned my parenting lessons at the hands of "helicopter parents" and therefore have been somewhat of a helicopter parent myself. We explained more than once to a child that 10 p.m. on a snowy winter night is not the best time to head through a very dangerous canyon to visit friends that were attending college in another town. Finally, my husband explained, "I would rather have you alive and mad at me than dead or a vegetable that I have to take care of for the rest of your life". Also explained were the rules of "choice and consequence"and "he who pays the mortgage makes the rules". Then we helped them learn how to make right choices and stood behind them when they paid the consequences of their bad choices.

I am not saying I have perfect children, how could they be with the example they had for a mother. I was always saying "I am my father's daughter" and have heard my son say more than once that "I am my mother's son". In our family, we learn life's lessons the hard way. But I would like to say that the fact that their father and I have hovered over... school activities, church activities, visits with various police officers and judges, doctor's visits and E/R visits, weddings, divorces, broken hearts etc.....have contributed some way to the fact that they both are good law fearing, tax paying contributing-to-society citizens. Now if I could just figure out a way to bill them a nominal fee for the "life coach" hours they have absorbed.

I can't believe it is 2010 already. My son asked me, what have I done (meaning him) to be a better person in the last 10 years. As we were discussing what he had accomplished, I began to think about what had happened in my life in the last 10 years. Some sad, some happy, some gratifying. So here's my list

2000

1. Graduated one some from high school in 2000.

2001

1. Was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 2001.

2002

1. Was sealed to my family in the Temple in 2002.
2. Lost the most wonderful father-in-law to Pacreatits. He passed away June 5th, the same day Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped.

2004

1. Got a different job as an instructor at work.
   

2005

1. Yippee, graduated my second son from high school. What a relief. No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks.
2. Got a new job in Examination, what a life change for me.
3. Bought a brand new (38 miles on it) car. What a treat for me, I felt like such a grown up.
   
4. My Mom had a stroke in July. Went through rehab at a nursing home for 3 months
5. My oldest son got married to a very nice girl.

2007

1. My sister-in-law passed away from Cancer that she had bravely battled for 7 years.
2. I started taking college courses after almost 30 years out of high school. Started with an Accounting class, what a challenge for me because I am mathematically challenged.
   
3. My Son got a promotion in his job and moved to Ogden, living about a mile away from us.
4. My mother-in-law sold her home and moved in with us. We found out that she had pancreatic cancer in June. What a devastating blow. Our family and friends rallied to help us care for her.
5. Got a promotion at work (still in Examination) doing complex interest for large corporations. What a challenge and a wonder that I could accomplish this task.

2008

1. My mother-in-law passed away in January of 2008. What a blow to our family because she was such a wonderful person. We loved her and miss her so much.
2. PAID OFF OUR HOME.
3. Bought my husband the truck of his dreams. It is an F350 Super duty, 4-wheel drive, diesel, dually. Not bragging, just can't believe something so nice is ours.
4. My son and his lovely wife separated. Spent quite a while soul searching thinking maybe I had something to do with it (steamroller personality that I have).
5. Finished the last college class I am going to take (got a 3.9GPA). Decided at my age, I just want to retire and enjoy myself.

2009

1. My son's divorce was final in February. What a sad time.
   
2. Helped my brother-in-law complete the temple work for my deceased sister-in-law. Assisted as he was sealed to her for time and eternity if she so chooses to honor the covenant made in her stead.
3. Watched happily as my brother-in-law married a wonderful woman.
4. Oh my heck, my son is now managing his own store. Meant a serious move (8 hours away) but what an accomplishment for him. I am so proud.
   
5. Managed to travel someplace almost every month this year. Not that we planned it but it worked out that way. Missed January and December.
6. Landed the best job in the world (so far) as an ATS in Appeals. I don't know what I was doing right to get the job and the boss I have but I am in heaven. Starting July 2010 I will be working from home part time. I can't wait.
7. My Mom fell and broke her leg the weekend after Labor Day. What a shocker, really brought it home that she was the only parent left. Rehab in the same nursing home as last, with wonderful caring people. She is home now and doing well.
8. Bought our retirement home, see picture posted.
   
9. What a wonderful day. In December, we were able to complete the proxy temple work for my husband's parents and seal him and his sister to them for time and eternity if they choose to honor the covenants we made on their behalf. What a joy for my husband to know that they will be together as a family again.
10. What an accomplishment, my wonderful husband and I have been married 30 years. Not all of them great but oh how glad I am that we stuck it out. What a friend I have and we have some much to look forward to.
    

As I look back at my list, I have had a very eventful decade. And that is only the major things that have happened. I am so grateful for the blessings and the love I have in my life. I am grateful for a family that accepts me, flawed as I am, and loves me anyway. I am eagerly looking forward to the new decade. Anything can happen and the sky is the limit if you choose to put yourself on the line. You risk the chance of loosing big, but the only way you know you won't advance is if you don't even try.

My first blog

I don't know much about computers but figured I would try. Everyone says you should keep a journal and I pretty much suck at it so I figured maybe this would be a good way to do it.

About me:
I am my kid's mom. I love it when everyone says that on Dr. Laura's show. Now I am not a dedicated fan of hers, just like the slogan. Because that about sums it up. I have two children, Brandon (27) and Dave (23). They both turned out pretty good despite their neurotic mother.

Brandon lives in Wyoming and is engaged to a very wonderful girl. He will be married in about 6 weeks. He manages a store that sells industrial supplies and really seems to do well at it. He started working for this company about 5 years ago as part time shop help and receiving freight.

Dave lives at home with us and works as a receiver for a trailer supply store. He dates a little but isn't really looking for a serious relationship right now (he says). He said he is going to live with us forever. I don't mind him being around because he serves a purpose, lifting heavy objects and reaching tall things. That and the fact that he really isn't that hard to live with and is kind of fun to be around. Unless he's doing stupid stuff, which he does every once in a while to remind us that he still can.

Mike and I have been married for 30 years (on the 29th of December). We were pretty young, just 19 and 20 when we got married, but have managed to muddle along pretty well together over the years. We are looking retirement square in the face, and it couldn't happen soon enough to suit me. We just bought a new trailer and truck in the last two years and the open road is calling our name.

Also living in our home are two of the cutest rescue puppies you could ever imagine, except when they are shredding the Kleenex in the bathroom garbage. We are the proud people of a miniature Schnauzer named Sammie and a West Highland White Terrier named Penny. I say we are their people because they really own us.